U.S. patent application number 15/726964 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-12 for vehicle positioning method and system.
The applicant listed for this patent is BEIJING MOBIKE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Xinwu LIU, Yiping XIA, Kun YANG.
Application Number | 20180100933 15/726964 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58854274 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180100933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
XIA; Yiping ; et
al. |
April 12, 2018 |
VEHICLE POSITIONING METHOD AND SYSTEM
Abstract
A vehicle positioning method and system are provided. The
vehicle positioning method comprises: receiving a first sampling
signal from a mobile communication device and a second sampling
signal from a vehicle; selecting a target sampling signal from the
first and second sampling signals; and determining a position of
the vehicle based on the target sampling signal. The vehicle
positioning method and system can improve the vehicle positioning
accuracy while reducing battery consumption.
Inventors: |
XIA; Yiping; (Beijing,
CN) ; LIU; Xinwu; (Beijing, CN) ; YANG;
Kun; (Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BEIJING MOBIKE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. |
Beijing |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
58854274 |
Appl. No.: |
15/726964 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J 45/00 20200201;
B62H 5/20 20130101; G01S 19/47 20130101; B62J 45/40 20200201; B62H
5/00 20130101; G01S 19/14 20130101; B62H 2003/005 20130101; G01S
19/34 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01S 19/47 20060101
G01S019/47 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 9, 2016 |
CN |
201610881188.4 |
Claims
1. A vehicle positioning method for a vehicle positioning system
which comprises a mobile communication device, a vehicle, and a
backend server, the method being executed by the backend server and
comprising the steps of: receiving a first sampling signal from the
mobile communication device and a second sampling signal from the
vehicle, wherein the first sampling signal includes a sampling
position and a corresponding sampling time stamp sampled at a first
sampling interval, and the second sampling signal including a
sampling position and a corresponding sampling time stamp sampled
at a second sampling interval; selecting a target sampling signal
from the first and second sampling signals; and determining a
position of the vehicle based on the target sampling signal.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the selecting the
target sampling signal comprises selecting a sampling signal
corresponding to a smaller sampling interval in the first and
second sampling intervals as the target sampling signal; and
determining the position of the vehicle comprises determining the
sampling position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in
the target sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the method further
comprises the step of receiving a locking signal including a
locking time from the vehicle; the selecting the target sampling
signal comprises: calculating a first time difference between the
locking time and the last sampling time stamp in the first sampling
signals, and when determining that the first time difference is not
greater than a preset time, selecting the first sampling signal as
the target sampling signal, otherwise, selecting the second
sampling signal as the target sampling signal; and the determining
the position of the vehicle comprises determining the sampling
position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the
target sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the preset time is the
first sampling interval.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further
comprises the steps of: detecting and acquiring an average speed
and a movement direction of the vehicle, and/or receiving an
average speed and a movement direction of the vehicle sent by the
mobile communication device or the vehicle; and based on the
average speed and the movement direction of the vehicle,
compensating for the position of the vehicle to obtain a final
position of the vehicle.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the compensating for
the position of the vehicle to obtain a final position thereof
comprises: when the target sampling signal is the first sampling
signal, calculating a product of the first time difference and the
average speed to obtain a movement distance, and taking a position
obtained by moving the sampling position corresponding to the last
sampling time stamp in the first sampling signals by the movement
distance in the movement direction, as the final position of the
vehicle; and when the target sampling signal is the second sampling
signal, calculating and acquiring a second time difference between
the locking time and the last sampling time stamp in the second
sampling signals, calculating a product of the second time
difference and the average speed to obtain a movement distance, and
taking a position obtained by moving the sampling position
corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the second
sampling signals by the movement distance in the movement
direction, as the final position of the vehicle.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the method further
comprises the step of at least one of generating an alarm signal or
receiving an alarm signal sent by the mobile communication device
or the vehicle; the selecting the target sampling signal comprises
selecting the second sampling signal as the target sampling signal;
and the determining the position of the vehicle comprises
determining the sampling position corresponding to the last
sampling time stamp in the second sampling signals as the position
of the vehicle.
8. A backend server, comprising: a memory for storing instructions;
and a processor for performing the vehicle positioning method
according to claim 1 under control of the instructions.
9. A vehicle positioning system comprising: a backend server
according to claim 8; a mobile communication device; and a vehicle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application No. 201610881188.4, filed on Oct. 9, 2016, the contents
of which as are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
Related Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle positioning
method and system.
Description of Related Art
[0003] At present, environmental pollution is becoming heavy. As an
environmental pollution source, vehicle exhaust emissions in big
cities have raised public concern. To solve this problem, on one
hand, some countries have restricted purchasing or running of
vehicles to reduce the vehicle ownership rate and the vehicle
utilization rate. On the other hand, green travel is greatly
encouraged.
[0004] Bicycle travel, as one of green travel means, is a choice
that most people make in a case of short distances. Undoubtedly,
bicycle travel is very convenient for cyclists if their starting
and destination points are relatively fixed. However, for people
who have to change their workplaces frequently, such as salesmen,
or tourists who travel in other cities, it is almost impossible for
them to go out by their own bicycles. Therefore, a bicycle rental
industry has come into being.
[0005] At present, a common form of bicycle rental is that
generally, multiple rental points are set fixedly, and bicycle
rental and return are implemented at the relatively closest rental
points. However, there is a problem that the bicycle rental and
return are greatly restricted as the number of the set rental
points is relatively limited. Thus, in order to facilitate bicycle
rental for users, a new rental system has come into being. In this
new rental system, there is no fixed rental point. When a user
finishes using a bicycle, he/she can arbitrarily park the bicycle
anywhere in an area permitted by the local regulations. When a next
user needs to use a bicycle, he/she can search for the nearest
bicycle through a portable device such as a mobile phone, and then
rent the bicycle via electronic payment, etc. As a bicycle is small
in size, accurate positioning of the bicycle is required in this
system.
[0006] In addition, in big cities, the theft rate of bicycles is
very high. So, in order to successfully find a stolen bicycle,
there is an urgent need for accurate positioning of the
bicycles.
[0007] Therefore, in this bicycle rental system, each bicycle is
equipped with a GPS and is driven by a battery carried by the
bicycle itself, so that the bicycle periodically samples its
position and reports the position to a backend server in the
system, and the backend server can monitor positions of the bicycle
based on sampling time stamps and sampling points. However, in
these bicycles, the battery only plays an auxiliary role, so the
battery capacity is limited, and the bicycle needs to recover
energy during riding to charge the battery. Therefore, in design,
battery consumption is required to be reduced by all means,
including reducing a GPS sampling frequency.
[0008] However, if the GPS sampling frequency is reduced, it means
that the positioning accuracy is reduced, which in turn contradicts
the need for accurate positioning as described above. Therefore,
how to reduce the battery consumption on the premise of improving
the positioning accuracy has become an urgent problem to be
solved.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention is developed to solve the above
problems, and aims to provide a vehicle positioning method and
system which can improve the vehicle positioning accuracy while
reducing battery consumption.
[0010] According to the first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle
positioning system which comprises a mobile communication device, a
vehicle and a backend server, the method being executed by the
backend server and comprising: receiving a first sampling signal
from the mobile communication device and a second sampling signal
from the vehicle, the first sampling signal including a sampling
position and a corresponding sampling time stamp sampled at a first
sampling interval, and the second sampling signal including a
sampling position and a corresponding sampling time stamp sampled
at a second sampling interval; selecting a target sampling signal
from the first and second sampling signals; and determining a
position of the vehicle based on the target sampling signal.
[0011] Optionally, selecting the target sampling signal comprises
selecting a sampling signal corresponding to a smaller sampling
interval in the first and second sampling intervals as the target
sampling signal; and determining the position of the vehicle
comprises determining the sampling position corresponding to the
last sampling time stamp in the target sampling signals as the
position of the vehicle.
[0012] Optionally, the method further comprises: receiving a
locking signal including a locking time from the vehicle, wherein
selecting the target sampling signal comprises: calculating a first
time difference between the locking time and the last sampling time
stamp in the first sampling signals; when determining that the
first time difference is not greater than a preset time, selecting
the first sampling signal as the target sampling signal, otherwise,
selecting the second sampling signal as the target sampling signal;
and determining the position of the vehicle comprises determining
the sampling position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp
in the target sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0013] Optionally, the preset time is the first sampling
interval.
[0014] Optionally, the method further comprises: detecting and
acquiring an average speed and a movement direction of the vehicle,
and/or receiving an average speed and a movement direction of the
vehicle sent by the mobile communication device or the vehicle; and
based on the average speed and the movement direction of the
vehicle, compensating for the position of the vehicle to obtain a
final position thereof.
[0015] Optionally, compensating for the position of the vehicle to
obtain a final position thereof comprises: when the target sampling
signal is the first sampling signal, calculating a product of the
first time difference and the average speed to obtain a movement
distance, and taking a position obtained by moving the sampling
position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the first
sampling signals by the movement distance in the movement
direction, as the final position of the vehicle; when the target
sampling signal is the second sampling signal, calculating and
acquiring a second time difference between the locking time and the
last sampling time stamp in the second sampling signals,
calculating a product of the second time difference and the average
speed to obtain a movement distance, and taking a position obtained
by moving the sampling position corresponding to the last sampling
time stamp in the second sampling signals by the movement distance
in the movement direction, as the final position of the
vehicle.
[0016] Optionally, the method further comprises: generating an
alarm signal, and/or receiving an alarm signal sent by the mobile
communication device or the vehicle, wherein selecting the target
sampling signal comprises selecting the second sampling signal as
the target sampling signal; and determining the position of the
vehicle comprises determining the sampling position corresponding
to the last sampling time stamp in the second sampling signals as
the position of the vehicle.
[0017] According to the second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle
positioning system which comprises a mobile communication device, a
vehicle and a backend server, the method being executed by the
mobile communication device and comprising: sampling a sampling
position and a corresponding sampling time stamp at a first
sampling interval; and sending a first sampling signal including
the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time stamp to
the backend server.
[0018] Optionally, when a user's trip ends, the step of sampling
the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time stamp at
the first sampling interval is stopped.
[0019] Optionally, the method further comprises: detecting and
acquiring an average speed and a movement direction of the vehicle,
and sending the average speed and the movement direction of the
vehicle to the backend server; and/or generating an alarm signal,
and sending the alarm signal to the backend server.
[0020] According to the third aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle
positioning system which comprises a mobile communication device, a
vehicle and a backend server, the method being executed by the
vehicle and comprising: sampling a sampling position and a
corresponding sampling time stamp at a second sampling interval;
and sending a second sampling signal including the sampling
position and the corresponding sampling time stamp to the backend
server.
[0021] Optionally, the method further comprises: when a user's trip
ends, stopping the step of sampling the sampling position and the
corresponding sampling time stamp at the second sampling interval;
and locking the vehicle, and sending to the backend server a
locking signal including a locking time.
[0022] Optionally, the method further comprises: detecting and
acquiring an average speed and a movement direction of the vehicle,
and sending the average speed and the movement direction of the
vehicle to the backend server; and/or generating an alarm signal,
and sending the alarm signal to the backend server.
[0023] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a backend server for executing a vehicle
positioning method applied to a vehicle positioning system. The
backend server comprises: a communication unit configured for
receiving a first sampling signal from the mobile communication
device and a second sampling signal from the vehicle, the first
sampling signal including a sampling position and a corresponding
sampling time stamp sampled at a first sampling interval, and the
second sampling signal including a sampling position and a
corresponding sampling time stamp sampled at a second sampling
interval; a signal selection unit configured for selecting a target
sampling signal from the first and second sampling signals; and a
vehicle positioning unit configured for determining a position of
the vehicle based on the target sampling signal.
[0024] Optionally, the signal selection unit is configured for
selecting a sampling signal corresponding to a smaller sampling
interval in the first and second sampling intervals as the target
sampling signal; and the vehicle positioning unit is configured for
determining the sampling position corresponding to the last
sampling time stamp in the target sampling signals as the position
of the vehicle.
[0025] Optionally, the communication unit is further configured for
receiving a locking signal including a locking time from the
vehicle. The backend server further comprises: a calculation unit
configured for calculating a first time difference between the
locking time and the last sampling time stamp in the first sampling
signals. The signal selection unit is configured for, when
determining that the first time difference is not greater than a
preset time, selecting the first sampling signal as the target
sampling signal, otherwise, selecting the second sampling signal as
the target sampling signal. The vehicle positioning unit is
configured for determining the sampling position corresponding to
the last sampling time stamp in the target sampling signals as the
position of the vehicle.
[0026] Optionally, the backend server further comprises: a vehicle
movement detection unit configured for detecting and acquiring an
average speed and a movement direction of the vehicle, and/or the
communication unit is configured for receiving an average speed and
a movement direction of the vehicle sent by the mobile
communication device or the vehicle; and the vehicle positioning
unit is configured for, based on the average speed and the movement
direction of the vehicle, compensating for the position of the
vehicle to obtain a final position thereof.
[0027] Optionally, when the target sampling signal is the first
sampling signal, the vehicle positioning unit is configured for:
calculating a product of the first time difference and the average
speed to obtain a movement distance, and taking a position obtained
by moving the sampling position corresponding to the last sampling
time stamp in the first sampling signals by the movement distance
in the movement direction, as the final position of the vehicle.
When the target sampling signal is the second sampling signal, the
calculation unit is configured for calculating and acquiring a
second time difference between the locking time and the last
sampling time stamp in the second sampling signals; and the vehicle
positioning unit is configured for: calculating a product of the
second time difference and the average speed to obtain a movement
distance, and taking a position obtained by moving the sampling
position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the
second sampling signals by the movement distance in the movement
direction, as the final position of the vehicle.
[0028] Optionally, the backend server further comprises: an alarm
unit configured for generating an alarm signal, and/or the
communication unit is further configured for receiving an alarm
signal sent by the mobile communication device or the vehicle. The
signal selection unit is further configured for selecting the
second sampling signal as the target sampling signal; and the
vehicle positioning unit is configured for determining the sampling
position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the
second sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0029] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a mobile communication device for executing a
vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle positioning system.
The mobile communication device comprises: a first position
sampling module configured for sampling a sampling position and a
corresponding sampling time stamp at a first sampling interval; and
a communication unit configured for sending a first sampling signal
including the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time
stamp to a backend server.
[0030] Optionally, the first position sampling module is further
configured for: when a user's trip ends, stopping the step of
sampling the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time
stamp at the first sampling interval.
[0031] Optionally, the mobile communication device further
comprises: a vehicle movement detection unit configured for
detecting and acquiring an average speed and a movement direction
of a vehicle; and/or an alarm unit configured for generating an
alarm signal and sending the alarm signal to a backend server.
[0032] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle for executing a vehicle positioning
method applied to a vehicle positioning system. The vehicle
comprises: a second position sampling module configured for
sampling a sampling position and a corresponding sampling time
stamp at a second sampling interval; and a communication unit
configured for sending a second sampling signal including the
sampling position and the corresponding sampling time stamp to a
backend server.
[0033] Optionally, the second position sampling module is further
configured for: when a user's trip ends, stopping the step of
sampling the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time
stamp at the second sampling interval. The vehicle further
comprises a locking device for locking the vehicle when a user's
trip ends and sending a locking signal including a locking time to
the backend server.
[0034] Optionally, the vehicle further comprises: a vehicle
movement detection unit configured for detecting and acquiring an
average speed and a movement direction of the vehicle; and/or an
alarm unit configured for generating an alarm signal and sending
the alarm signal to the backend server.
[0035] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning system comprising: a
backend server provided by the fourth aspect of the present
invention; a mobile communication device provided by the fifth
aspect of the present invention; and a vehicle provided by the
sixth aspect of the present invention.
[0036] The vehicle positioning method and system of the present
invention can improve the vehicle positioning accuracy while
reducing battery consumption.
[0037] The specific content of the present invention and the
technical effect brought thereby will become clear through
description of the description and the drawings below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the overall structure of
the vehicle positioning system of the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a function block view of the vehicle positioning
system of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a function block view of a central processing unit
22 of a backend server 2 in the vehicle positioning system of the
present invention.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the vehicle positioning method of
the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 5 is another flow chart of the vehicle positioning
method of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of an example of the vehicle
positioning method of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0044] The present invention is described with reference to some
examples shown in the figures. To thoroughly understand the present
invention, many details are omitted in the following description.
However, those skilled in the art shall be clear that the present
invention can be realized while omitting part or all of these
details. In other cases, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the
present invention, well known processing steps and/or structures
are not specifically described. In addition, although the present
invention is described with reference to certain examples, it
should be understood that such description is not intended to limit
the present invention within the described examples. On the
contrary, such description is intended to encompass all
substitutions, improvements and equivalent solutions within the
spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the appended
claims.
[0045] [Overall Structure of the Vehicle Positioning System]
[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the overall structure of
the vehicle positioning system of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 1, the system includes a mobile communication device 1, a
backend server 2 and a bicycle 3, which can establish communication
connections with one another via a wireless network. The bicycle 3
includes an anti-theft lock 30. Under control of a lock control
unit 33, a locking signal and an anti-theft alarm signal can be
sent to the backend server 2 via the wireless network. Here, the
locking signal may include a locking time, so that the backend
server 2 can know the locking time by receiving the locking signal.
In addition, although the anti-theft lock 30 is exemplified as a
locking device for the bicycle 3, the locking device is not limited
to an anti-theft lock, and it can be any other device capable of
locking the bicycle 3. The locking may be in any form, such as a
mechanical form or an electronic form.
[0047] In addition, each of the mobile communication device 1 and
the bicycle 3 is provided with a GPS module. In a case where a
user's trip starts by the bicycle 3 and a GPS sampling function is
started, the GPS modules can communicate with a GPS satellite at a
certain fixed interval, so as to determine the position of the
mobile communication device 1 or the bicycle 3, and reports the
position and the time stamp to a backend server 2 when the position
is determined. Further, the GPS modules of the mobile communication
device 1 and the bicycle 3 will be in a dormant state when the
user's trip ends, and will be awakened again when a next user's
trip starts. Moreover, the GPS module of the bicycle 3 will be
awakened if an anti-theft alarm is sent due to an external factor
or locking needs to be executed manually by an operator as the user
does not lock the bicycle.
[0048] The backend server 2 receives time stamps and sampling
positions reported from the GPS modules of the mobile communication
device 1 and the bicycle 3, respectively, and determines a specific
position of the bicycle based on a locking time and other factors.
The determination of the specific position of the bicycle will be
described below.
[0049] In the present invention, the mobile communication device 1
may send or receive a signal via a wired or wireless network or
other manners, or may process or store the signal, for example, in
a memory in a physical storage state. Each mobile communication
device 1 may be an electronic device that comprises hardware,
software, or an embedded logic component or a combination of two or
more such components, and is capable of executing appropriate
functions implemented or supported by the mobile communication
device. For example, the mobile communication device may be a smart
phone, a tablet computer, a portable e-mail device, an electronic
book, a handheld game machine and/or a game controller, a notebook
computer, a netbook, a handheld electronic device, a smart wear
device, and the like. The embodiments of the present invention
cover any suitable mobile communication device. The mobile
communication device may enable a user using the mobile
communication device to access the network. In particular, the
mobile communication device may comprise a processing device
including an application processing unit and a radio
frequency/digital signal processor, a display screen, a pocket
keyboard that may include physical keys, touch keys covering the
display screen or a combination thereof, a user identification
module card, a memory device that may include a ROM, a RAM, a flash
memory or any combination thereof, a Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth
interface, a wireless telephone interface, a power supply
management circuit with an associated battery, a USB interface and
connector, an audio management system with an associated
microphone, speaker and headphone jack, and various optional
accessories such as a digital camera, a global positioning system
and an accelerator. In addition, various client applications may be
installed on the mobile communication device, and may allow the
mobile communication device to transmit commands suitable for being
operated with other devices. Such applications may be downloaded
from a server and installed into the memory of the mobile
communication device, and may be previously installed on the mobile
communication device. In the embodiments of the present invention,
the mobile communication device 1 is provided with a bicycle user
terminal application which can assist the user in realizing
functions of managing the bicycle 3, wherein the functions include,
but are not limited to, theft prevention. In other embodiments of
the present invention, the mobile communication device 1 may also
be provided with a maintenance personnel application that may be
configured to assist the maintenance personnel in realizing
functions of operational management for the bicycle 3, wherein the
functions include, but are not limited to, theft prevention,
maintenance and the like. According to some embodiments of the
present invention, the mobile communication device 1 can obtain the
position of the bicycle 3 by running a bicycle user terminal.
Further, in a case where the bicycle 3 is stolen, the mobile
communication device 1 will receive a prompt message from the
backend server 2. In addition, the user may remotely unlock the
bicycle 3 through the mobile communication device 1.
[0050] In the embodiments of the present invention, the backend
server 2 is a server. The term "server" used herein should be
understood as a service point for providing a processing function,
a database and a communication facility. For example, the server
may refer to a single physical processor with associated
communication and data storage facilities and a database facility,
or may refer to an aggregation of networked or grouped processors,
associated networks and storage devices, and is configured for
operating software and one or more database systems as well as
application software supporting services provided by the server.
The server may vary widely in configuration or performance, but may
generally include one or more central processing units and a
memory. The server may further include one or more mass memory
devices, one or more power supplies, one or more wired or wireless
network interfaces, one or more input/output interfaces, and one or
more operating systems, such as Windows Server, Mac OS X, Unix,
Linux, FreeBSD, and the like. In particular, the backend server may
be an integral server or a distributed server across multiple
computers or computer data centers. The server may be of various
types, such as, a web server, a news server, a mail server, a
message server, an advertisement server, a file server, an
application server, an interactive server, a database server, or a
proxy server, but is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, each
server may include hardware, software, or an embedded logic
component for performing appropriate functions supported or
implemented by the server or a combination of two or more of the
components. In the embodiments of the present invention, the server
is configured to provide all functions necessary to support bicycle
management. In the embodiments of the present invention, the
backend server can calculate and determine whether a signal sent by
an anti-theft lock is caused by a theft behavior or not. In
addition, the backend server may send an instruction to the
anti-theft lock to control it to/not to send an alarm; and the
backend server may also send an instruction to the anti-theft lock
to enable the anti-theft lock 30 to upload status information
(e.g., positioning information) of the bicycle periodically or in
real time.
[0051] In the embodiments of the present invention, the bicycle 3
is exemplified as a specific example of the vehicle. However, the
bicycle is merely a representative example for describing specific
contents of the embodiments of the present invention. The vehicle
is not limited to a bicycle, and may be a tricycle, an
electro-hybrid bicycle, a motorcycle, a four-wheel passenger car
and the like as long as they are provided with GPS modules and may
be communicated with the backend server. In the embodiments of the
present invention, the vehicle may also be provided with a memory
device and a processor device; the memory device may be configured
to store an instruction; and the processor device may control the
GPS module to acquire a signal according to the instruction, and
trigger a communication with the backend server, so as to implement
the steps related to the vehicle positioning method provided by the
embodiment.
[0052] In the embodiments of the present invention, the wireless
networks refer to any suitable wireless networks, such as, 4G
networks, 3G networks, GPRS and Wi-Fi networks, but are not limited
thereto. In addition, the wireless network through which the
backend server 2 and the mobile communication device 1 are coupled
together may be the same as or different from the wireless network
through which the backend server 2 and the bicycle 3 are coupled
together.
[0053] [Function Block View of the Vehicle Positioning System]
[0054] FIG. 2 is a function block view of the overall structure of
the vehicle positioning system according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 2, 1 represents a mobile communication
device (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a mobile phone for
convenience) which is carried by a user of a bicycle. A GPS unit 11
(a first position sampling module) and a communication unit 12 are
shown in the mobile communication device 1. A position of the
mobile communication device 1 is sampled by the GPS unit 11 at a
frequency of, for example, 5 seconds, and the position information
is reported to the backend server 2 through the communication unit
12. Here, as the user of the bicycle 3 carries the mobile
communication device 1, the position of the mobile communication
device 1 is the same as that of the bicycle 3 during the user's
riding, and the backend server 2 can determine the position of the
bicycle 3 according to the position information reported by the
mobile communication device 1. In addition, as an example, although
it is described that the GPS unit 11 reports the position
information at the frequency of 5 seconds herein, it should be
noted that this is only an example for explaining the content of
the embodiment of the present invention. Actually, the sampling
frequency of the GPS unit 11 in the mobile communication device 1
can be arbitrarily set by a manufacturer of the GPS module or the
mobile phone as required. In addition, for facilitating
explanation, only functional blocks related to the embodiment of
the present invention in the mobile communication device 1 are
shown. But it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
the mobile communication device 1 includes not only the
above-described respective functional blocks but also various
functional blocks in a common mobile phone, which is the same for
other devices that will be described below.
[0056] In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, 3 represents a bicycle. The
bicycle 3 comprises a GPS unit 31 (a second position sampling
module), a communication unit 32, and a lock control unit 33. The
GPS unit 31 in the bicycle 3 samples a position of the bicycle 3 at
a certain frequency and reports the sampled position to a backend
server 2 via the communication unit therein, which is the same as
the GPS unit 11 in the mobile communication device 1. The GPS unit
31 in the bicycle 3 differs from the GPS unit 11 in the mobile
communication device 1 in that a battery (not shown) arranged in
the bicycle 3 is an auxiliary battery for providing power to the
GPS unit 31 and the anti-theft lock 30. The battery capacity is
very small due to the limitation of the size of the bicycle 3, so
that the battery needs to be charged by recovering the energy
during the travelling of the bicycle 3. Therefore, in order to
minimize the battery consumption in the bicycle 3, the position
sampling accuracy in the GPS unit 31 is greatly reduced, that is,
the sampling frequency is much lower than that in the GPS unit 11;
for example, it is several minutes or more than ten minutes.
Although such sampling accuracy can satisfy the measurement of a
general travelling route and a travelling distance of a vehicle,
the accuracy is too low to acquire the position of the bicycle 3
accurately. It is for this reason that the inventors of the
embodiments of the present invention are intended to assist in
determining the position of the bicycle 3 by the GPS unit 11 in the
mobile communication device 1, such as a mobile phone held by a
bicycle user.
[0057] In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, 2 represents a backend
server. The backend server 2 comprises a communication unit 21,
which communicates with the mobile communication device 1 and the
bicycle 3, and a central processing unit 22. The central processing
unit 22 controls the whole backend server 2.
[0058] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 3, the central processing
unit 22 comprises a signal selection unit 221, a vehicle
positioning unit 222, a calculation unit 223, a temporary storage
unit 224, a vehicle movement detection unit 225 and an alarm unit
226.
[0059] First, a sampling signal from the GPS unit 11 and a locking
signal from the anti-theft lock 30 are input to the calculation
unit 223 via the communication unit 21, the calculation unit 223
extracts a locking time included in the locking signal and
calculates a relation between the locking time and a sampling time
stamp included in the sampling signal of the GPS unit 11. In
addition, the sampling signals from the GPS unit 11 and the GPS
unit 31 are input to the signal selection unit 221, and the signal
selection unit 221 selects one of the two sampling signals based on
a calculation result in the calculation unit 223 and a condition
whether the alarm unit 226 sends an alarm signal or not. The signal
selected by the signal selection unit 221 is input to the temporary
storage unit 224 and the vehicle positioning unit 222,
respectively. A sampling time stamp and a sampling position of each
sampling point are temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit
224, so that the vehicle movement detection unit 225 can calculate
an average speed and a movement direction of the bicycle based on
the sampling time stamps and the sampling positions stored in the
temporary storage unit 224. In addition, in the vehicle positioning
unit 222, data of a sampled last sampling point is extracted from
the GPS signal from the signal selection unit 221. Moreover, on the
basis of a sampling position corresponding to the last sampling
point, the sampling position is compensated based on an operation
result of the vehicle movement detection unit 225; and the
compensated position is taken as the final position of the vehicle.
Further, the alarm unit 226 is described as being included in the
central processing unit 22 at one side of the backend server 2
herein, but is not limited thereto in the present invention. The
alarm unit 226 may be arranged in the bicycle or the mobile phone.
The communication unit 21 in the backend server 2 receives the
alarm signal from an alarm unit in the bicycle or the mobile phone
and supplies the alarm signal to the signal selection unit 221.
[0060] In addition, as the sampling of the GPS unit is performed at
a certain frequency, that is, there is a certain interval between
sampling points, when the user's trip ends and the anti-theft lock
30 is locked, the locking time stamp is just between time stamps of
two sampling points. Of course, it is possible that the locking
time stamp is just at the time stamp of the last sampling point.
That is, in a case where the sampling of the GPS unit is stopped as
the user's trip ends, generally, there is also a certain distance
from a position corresponding to the time stamp of the last
sampling point of the GPS unit to a position corresponding to the
time stamp of the anti-theft lock 30. Therefore, in the embodiments
of the present invention, by arranging the vehicle movement
detection unit 225, the average speed and the movement direction of
the bicycle 3 are calculated in a trip in accordance with time
stamps and sampling positions of the last two sampling points of
the bicycle. Then, the vehicle position reported by the GPS unit is
compensated in the vehicle positioning unit 222. That is, on the
basis of the vehicle position reported by the GPS unit, the
distance moved by the vehicle within a time difference between the
last sampling time stamp and the locking time stamp is moved in the
vehicle travelling direction, so that the compensated vehicle
position is used as the final position of the vehicle. Here, the
distance moved by the moving vehicle within the time difference
between the last sampling time stamp and the locking time stamp is
obtained by multiplying the average speed of the vehicle by the
above time difference. In addition, since the vehicle speed will
gradually slow down before the user parks and locks the vehicle,
the above calculated average speed can be multiplied by a constant
smaller than 1 as a corrected average speed.
[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, the vehicle movement
detection unit 225 is arranged in the backend server 2, but it may
be arranged on either the mobile communication device 1 or the
bicycle 3, and information such as the calculated average speed and
the movement direction is reported to the backend server 2 through
the wireless network. Furthermore, in this embodiment, sampling
data required by the vehicle movement detection unit 225 for
performing calculation on the average speed and the movement
direction is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 224
(for example, the buffer memory) arranged in the central processing
unit 22 for calculation, and may be stored in a memory (e.g., a
hard disk or internal memory) external to the central processing
unit 22.
[0062] Furthermore, taking into the following considerations, the
vehicle positioning unit 222 determines the position of the vehicle
by using a signal selected by the signal selection unit 221 instead
of always using the position reported by the GPS unit 11 herein. As
described above, the GPS unit 11 in the mobile communication device
1 performs sampling on the vehicle position at a frequency of, for
example, 5 seconds. Thus, it is considered that the GPS unit 11
normally ends the sampling in a case where a time difference,
between the locking time stamp and the last sampling time stamp of
the GPS unit 11, calculated by the calculation unit 223 is smaller
than or equal to 5 seconds. Otherwise, if the time difference
between the locking time stamp and the last sampling time stamp of
the GPS unit 11 is greater than 5 seconds, it means that the GPS
unit 11 ends sampling early due to a failure or the like, or the
sampling function is not enabled at all, or the mobile phone has no
signal. Therefore, in such cases, if the position reported by the
GPS unit 11 continues as a current position of the bicycle, the
positioning accuracy will be reduced. Thus, when it is determined
that the GPS unit 11 is faulty, the vehicle positioning unit 222
adopts the signal reported by the GPS unit 31 and selected by the
signal selection unit 221 to determine the position of the
vehicle.
[0063] In addition, if the backend server 2 receives an alarm
signal after the user's trip ends, the position of the vehicle may
also be determined by using the signal reported by the GPS unit 31
and selected by the signal selection unit 221. This is because the
received alarm signal herein comprises a received anti-theft alarm
and a reported condition that it is required a bicycle manager to
manually lock the bicycle as the user does not lock the bicycle. In
such a case, as the user carrying the mobile phone has left the
bicycle 3, the GPS unit 31 in the bicycle 3 is awakened from a
sleep state by this alarm action. Thus, in this case, a relatively
accurate vehicle position will be obtained by using the signal
reported by the GPS unit 31 to determine the position of the
vehicle.
[0064] [Flow Chart of Vehicle Positioning Method]
[0065] Hereinafter, the flow chart of the vehicle positioning
method will be described based on FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, first,
when a user chooses to rent a bicycle, a user's trip starts by
operating an application in a mobile phone (S1). In case that the
user's trip starts, the GPS units in the mobile phone and the
bicycle will be automatically started, respectively, so as to
sample positions of the bicycle at a certain interval. At this
time, the backend server 2 will continuously receive GPS signals
from the mobile phone and the bicycle (S2). Of course, a storage
device is arranged in the backend server 2, so that data obtained
based on the GPS signal is allowed to establish association with
the user information to be stored. After the user travels a certain
distance or time by the bicycle and wants to end of the trip and
return the bicycle, he/she operates the application in the mobile
phone to end the trip (S3). When the user ends the trip, the GPS
units in the mobile phone and the bicycle will stop sampling
immediately and the anti-theft lock 30 will be locked at once. The
anti-theft lock 30 sends a locking signal including the locking
time to the backend server 2 while locking (S4). In the backend
server 2, the bicycle is positioned based on the received sampling
signal and the locking signal (S5).
[0066] FIG. 5 shows a specific flow of step S5 for positioning the
bicycle. First, after the user ends the trip, the backend server 2
judges whether an alarm signal is received or not (S21). Then, if
the backend server 2 judges that the alarm signal is not received
within a time period that the user's trip ends but a new trip is
not started yet (In S21, "NO"), a first time difference between the
last sampling time stamp and the locking time of the GPS unit 11 of
the mobile phone is calculated (S22). When the first time
difference is smaller than or equal to 5 s (In S23, "YES"), the
backend server 2 acquires an average speed and a traveling
direction of the bicycle 3 based on the GPS signal reported by the
GPS unit 11 (S24). The position finally reported by the GPS unit 11
of the mobile phone is compensated by the distance moved by the
bicycle 3 within the first time difference, and the compensated
position is used as the position of the bicycle (S25). On the other
hand, when the first time difference is greater than 5 s (In S23,
"YES"), a second time difference between the last sampling time
stamp and the locking time stamp of the GPS module 31 of the
bicycle 3 is calculated (S26). Then, the backend server 2 acquires
an average speed and a traveling direction of the bicycle 3 based
on the GPS signal reported by the GPS unit 31 (S27). The position
finally reported by the GPS unit 31 of the bicycle 3 is compensated
by the distance moved by the bicycle 3 within the second time
difference, and the compensated position is used as the position of
the bicycle (S28). In addition, when the backend server 2
determines that an alarm signal is received (In S21, "YES"), the
position reported by the GPS unit 31 of the bicycle 3 is used as
the position of the bicycle (S29). It should be noted that in the
embodiments of the present invention, as an example, it is judged
whether the first time difference exceeds 5 s or not. However, the
judgment criterion of 5 s is set based on the sampling interval
(generally, it is set to be equal to the sampling interval) of the
GPS unit 11 assumed in the above. Therefore, the judgment criterion
varies depending on the specific situation of the sampling interval
of the GPS unit 11, and the sampling interval can be flexibly set
by users according to the actual needs.
[0067] Here, in order to obtain the accurate position of the
bicycle, the positions reported by the GPS units in the mobile
phone and the bicycle are respectively compensated in the backend
server 2. However, in a case where it is not necessary to obtain a
very accurate position or the average speed of the bicycle is slow
enough, steps S24, S26 and S27 may be omitted; and in steps S25 and
S28, the position reported by the GPS unit 11 or the GPS unit 31 is
directly used as a current position of the bicycle.
EXAMPLE
[0068] The vehicle positioning method provided by the embodiments
of the present invention will be further explained with reference
to the example shown in FIG. 6.
[0069] In this example, the vehicle positioning method may be
implemented by the vehicle positioning system shown in FIG. 1 or 2.
Specifically, the vehicle positioning method is implemented by a
mobile communication device 1, a backend server 2 and a bicycle 3.
The method comprises the following steps.
[0070] In S101, a user operates an application of the mobile
communication device 1, such that a trip is started by riding the
bicycle 3.
[0071] During the trip, positions of the bicycle are sampled by the
mobile communication device 1 and the bicycle 3.
[0072] In S102, the backend server 2 receives first sampling
signals from the mobile communication device 1 and second sampling
signals from the bicycle 3.
[0073] In S103, the backend server 2 selects a target sampling
signal from the first and second sampling signals.
[0074] The steps of determining the target sampling signal can be
executed by the signal selection unit 221 shown in FIG. 2. The
implementation manner has been explained in the description for
FIG. 2, and will not be repeated.
[0075] In S104, the position of the bicycle 3 is determined based
on the target sampling signal.
[0076] The steps for determining the position of the vehicle are
shown in FIG. 5 and will not be repeated.
[0077] The above has explained the vehicle positioning method
provided by the embodiments of the present invention with reference
to the drawings and the above example. By receiving a first
sampling signal from a mobile communication device and a second
sampling signal from a vehicle, selecting a target sampling signal
from the first and second sampling signals, and determining a
position of the vehicle based on the target sampling signal, the
vehicle positioning method can improve the vehicle positioning
accuracy while reducing battery consumption.
[0078] According to the first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle
positioning system which comprises a mobile communication device, a
vehicle and a backend server, the method being executed by the
backend server and comprising: receiving a first sampling signal
from the mobile communication device and a second sampling signal
from the vehicle, the first sampling signal including a sampling
position and a corresponding sampling time stamp sampled at a first
sampling interval, and the second sampling signal including a
sampling position and a corresponding sampling time stamp sampled
at a second sampling interval; selecting a target sampling signal
from the first and second sampling signals; and determining a
position of the vehicle based on the target sampling signal.
[0079] According to the second aspect of the present invention, in
the method of the first aspect, selecting the target sampling
signal comprises selecting a sampling signal corresponding to a
smaller sampling interval in the first and second sampling
intervals as the target sampling signal; and determining the
position of the vehicle comprises determining the sampling position
corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the target
sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0080] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the
method of the first or second aspect further comprises: receiving a
locking signal including a locking time from the vehicle, wherein
selecting the target sampling signal comprises: calculating a first
time difference between the locking time and the last sampling time
stamp in the first sampling signals; when determining that the
first time difference is not greater than a preset time, selecting
the first sampling signal as the target sampling signal, otherwise,
selecting the second sampling signal as the target sampling signal;
and determining the position of the vehicle comprises determining
the sampling position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp
in the target sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0081] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in
the method of any of the first to third aspects, the preset time is
the first sampling interval.
[0082] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the
method of any of the first to fourth aspects further comprises:
detecting and acquiring an average speed and a movement direction
of the vehicle, and/or receiving an average speed and a movement
direction of the vehicle sent by the mobile communication device or
the vehicle; and based on the average speed and the movement
direction of the vehicle, compensating for the position of the
vehicle to obtain a final position thereof.
[0083] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in
the method of any of the first to fifth aspects, compensating for
the position of the vehicle to obtain a final position thereof
comprises: when the target sampling signal is the first sampling
signal, calculating a product of the first time difference and the
average speed to obtain a movement distance, and taking a position
obtained by moving the sampling position corresponding to the last
sampling time stamp in the first sampling signals by the movement
distance in the movement direction, as the final position of the
vehicle; when the target sampling signal is the second sampling
signal, calculating and acquiring a second time difference between
the locking time and the last sampling time stamp in the second
sampling signals, calculating a product of the second time
difference and the average speed to obtain a movement distance, and
taking a position obtained by moving the sampling position
corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the second
sampling signals by the movement distance in the movement
direction, as the final position of the vehicle.
[0084] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention,
the method of any of the first to sixth aspects further comprises:
generating an alarm signal, and/or receiving an alarm signal sent
by the mobile communication device or the vehicle, wherein
selecting the target sampling signal comprises selecting the second
sampling signal as the target sampling signal; and determining the
position of the vehicle comprises determining the sampling position
corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the second
sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0085] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle
positioning system which comprises a mobile communication device, a
vehicle and a backend server, the method being executed by the
mobile communication device and comprising: sampling a sampling
position and a corresponding sampling time stamp at a first
sampling interval; and sending a first sampling signal including
the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time stamp to
the backend server.
[0086] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the
method of the eighth aspect further comprises: when a user's trip
ends, stopping the step of sampling the sampling position and the
corresponding sampling time stamp at the first sampling
interval.
[0087] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the
method of the eighth or ninth aspect further comprises: detecting
and acquiring an average speed and a movement direction of the
vehicle, and sending the average speed and the movement direction
of the vehicle to the backend server; and/or generating an alarm
signal, and sending the alarm signal to the backend server.
[0088] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle
positioning system which comprises a mobile communication device, a
vehicle and a backend server, the method being executed by the
vehicle and comprising: sampling a sampling position and a
corresponding sampling time stamp at a second sampling interval;
and sending a second sampling signal including the sampling
position and the corresponding sampling time stamp to the backend
server.
[0089] According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention,
the method of the eleventh aspect further comprises: when a user's
trip ends, stopping the step of sampling the sampling position and
the corresponding sampling time stamp at the second sampling
interval; locking the vehicle, and sending to the backend server a
locking signal including a locking time.
[0090] According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention,
the method of the eleventh or twelfth aspect further comprises:
detecting and acquiring an average speed and a movement direction
of the vehicle, and sending the average speed and the movement
direction of the vehicle to the backend server; and/or generating
an alarm signal, and sending the alarm signal to the backend
server.
[0091] According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a backend server for executing a vehicle
positioning method applied to a vehicle positioning system. The
backend server comprises: a communication unit configured for
receiving a first sampling signal from the mobile communication
device and a second sampling signal from the vehicle, the first
sampling signal including a sampling position and a corresponding
sampling time stamp sampled at a first sampling interval, and the
second sampling signal including a sampling position and a
corresponding sampling time stamp sampled at a second sampling
interval; a signal selection unit configured for selecting a target
sampling signal from the first and second sampling signals; and a
vehicle positioning unit configured for determining a position of
the vehicle based on the target sampling signal.
[0092] According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention,
in the backend server according to the fourteenth aspect, the
signal selection unit is configured for selecting a sampling signal
corresponding to a smaller sampling interval in the first and
second sampling intervals as the target sampling signal; and the
vehicle positioning unit is configured for determining the sampling
position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the
target sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0093] According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention,
in the backend server according to the fourteenth or fifteenth
aspect, the communication unit is further configured for receiving
a locking signal including a locking time from the vehicle. The
backend server further comprises: a calculation unit configured for
calculating a first time difference between the locking time and
the last sampling time stamp in the first sampling signals. The
signal selection unit is configured for, when determining that the
first time difference is not greater than a preset time, selecting
the first sampling signal as the target sampling signal, otherwise,
selecting the second sampling signal as the target sampling signal.
The vehicle positioning unit is configured for determining the
sampling position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in
the target sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0094] According to the seventeenth aspect of the present
invention, the backend server of any of the fourteenth to sixteenth
aspect further comprises: a vehicle movement detection unit
configured for detecting and acquiring an average speed and a
movement direction of the vehicle, and/or the communication unit is
configured for receiving an average speed and a movement direction
of the vehicle sent by the mobile communication device or the
vehicle; and the vehicle positioning unit is configured for, based
on the average speed and the movement direction of the vehicle,
compensating for the position of the vehicle to obtain a final
position thereof.
[0095] According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention,
in the backend server of any of the fourteenth to seventeenth
aspect, when the target sampling signal is the first sampling
signal, the vehicle positioning unit is configured for: calculating
a product of the first time difference and the average speed to
obtain a movement distance, and taking a position obtained by
moving the sampling position corresponding to the last sampling
time stamp in the first sampling signals by the movement distance
in the movement direction, as the final position of the vehicle.
When the target sampling signal is the second sampling signal, the
calculation unit is configured for calculating and acquiring a
second time difference between the locking time and the last
sampling time stamp in the second sampling signals; and the vehicle
positioning unit is configured for: calculating a product of the
second time difference and the average speed to obtain a movement
distance, and taking a position obtained by moving the sampling
position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in the
second sampling signals by the movement distance in the movement
direction, as the final position of the vehicle.
[0096] According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention,
the backend server of any of the fourteenth to eighteenth aspect
further comprises: an alarm unit configured for generating an alarm
signal, and/or the communication unit is further configured for
receiving an alarm signal sent by the mobile communication device
or the vehicle. The signal selection unit is further configured for
selecting the second sampling signal as the target sampling signal;
and the vehicle positioning unit is configured for determining the
sampling position corresponding to the last sampling time stamp in
the second sampling signals as the position of the vehicle.
[0097] According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a mobile communication device for executing a
vehicle positioning method applied to a vehicle positioning system.
The mobile communication device comprises: a first position
sampling module configured for sampling a sampling position and a
corresponding sampling time stamp at a first sampling interval; and
a communication unit configured for sending a first sampling signal
including the sampling position and the corresponding sampling time
stamp to a backend server.
[0098] According to the twenty first aspect of the present
invention, in the mobile communication device according to the
twentieth aspect of the present invention, the first position
sampling module is further configured for: when a user's trip ends,
stopping the step of sampling the sampling position and the
corresponding sampling time stamp at the first sampling
interval.
[0099] According to the twenty second aspect of the present
invention, the mobile communication device according to the
twentieth or twenty first aspect of the present invention further
comprises: a vehicle movement detection unit configured for
detecting and acquiring an average speed and a movement direction
of a vehicle; and/or an alarm unit configured for generating an
alarm signal and sending the alarm signal to a backend server.
[0100] According to the twenty third aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a vehicle for executing a vehicle
positioning method applied to a vehicle positioning system. The
vehicle comprises: a second position sampling module configured for
sampling a sampling position and a corresponding sampling time
stamp at a second sampling interval; and a communication unit
configured for sending a second sampling signal including the
sampling position and the corresponding sampling time stamp to a
backend server.
[0101] According to the twenty fourth aspect of the present
invention, in the vehicle according to the twenty third aspect, the
second position sampling module is further configured for: when a
user's trip ends, stopping the step of sampling the sampling
position and the corresponding sampling time stamp at the second
sampling interval. The vehicle further comprises a locking device
for locking the vehicle when a user's trip ends and sending a
locking signal including a locking time to the backend server.
[0102] According to the twenty fifth aspect of the present
invention, the vehicle according to the twenty third or twenty
fourth aspect further comprises: a vehicle movement detection unit
configured for detecting and acquiring an average speed and a
movement direction of the vehicle; and/or an alarm unit configured
for generating an alarm signal and sending the alarm signal to the
backend server.
[0103] According to the twenty sixth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a vehicle positioning system
comprising: a backend server provided by any of the fourteenth to
nineteenth aspects of the present invention; a mobile communication
device provided by any of the twentieth to twenty second aspects of
the present invention; and a vehicle provided by any of the twenty
third to twenty fifth aspects of the present invention.
[0104] The present invention may be a system, a method and/or a
computer program product. The computer program product may include
a computer-readable storage medium loaded with computer-readable
program instructions causing a processor to realize the aspects of
the present invention.
[0105] The computer-readable storage medium may be a physical
device that may maintain and store instructions used by an
instruction-executable device. For example, the computer-readable
storage medium may be, but is not limited to, an electric storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples
(non-exhaustive lists) of the computer-readable storage medium
include a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or a flash memory), a static random access
memory (SRAM), a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a
digital versatile disc (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a
mechanical encoding device, a punched card or a groove bulged
structure that stores instructions thereon, and any suitable
combination thereof. The computer-readable storage medium used
herein is not interpreted as an instantaneous signal, such as radio
waves or other freely propagated electromagnetic waves,
electromagnetic waves propagated through a waveguide or other
transmission media (e.g., optical pulses of optical fiber cables),
or electrical signals transmitted by wires.
[0106] The computer-readable program instructions described herein
may be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to
respective computing/processing devices or downloaded to an
external computer or external storage device via a network, such as
the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a
wireless network. The network may include copper transmission
cables, optical fiber transmission, wireless transmission, a
router, a firewall, a switch, a gateway computer and/or an edge
server. A network adapter card or network interface in each
computing/processing device receives computer-readable program
instructions from the network and forwards the computer-readable
program instructions to be stored in the computer-readable storage
medium in each computing/processing device.
[0107] The computer-readable program instructions for executing the
operations of the present invention may be assembly instructions,
instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine-related instructions, microcodes, firmware
instructions, state setting data, or source codes or object codes
written by any combination of one or more programming languages.
The programming languages include object-oriented programming
languages, such as Smalltalk, C++ and the like, as well as
conventional procedural programming languages, such as "C" language
or similar programming languages. The computer-readable program
instructions may be completely executed on a user's computer,
partially executed on the user's computer, executed as a separate
software package, executed on the user's computer and a remote
computer, or completely executed on the remote computer or a
server. When the remote computer is referred to, the remote
computer may be connected to a user computer via any kind of
network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g.,
via the Internet provided by an Internet service provider). In some
embodiments, an electronic circuit, such as a programmable logic
circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a programmable
logic array (PLA) is customized in a personalized manner by
utilizing state information of the computer-readable program
instructions. The electronic circuit may execute the
computer-readable program instructions, implementing various
aspects of the present invention.
[0108] Various aspects of the present invention are described
herein with reference to flow charts and/or block diagrams of the
method, device (system) and computer program product according to
the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood
that flow charts and/or each block in the block diagrams, as well
as the flow charts and/or the combinations of all blocks in the
block diagrams, may be implemented by computer-readable program
instructions.
[0109] These computer-readable program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, a special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing devices to generate
a machine, so that when these instructions are executed by the
processor of the computer or the other programmable data processing
devices, a device for realizing functions/actions designated in the
flow charts and/or in one or more blocks in the block diagrams.
These computer-readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer-readable storage medium that causes the computer, the
programmable data processing device and/or other devices to operate
in a particular manner. Thus, the computer-readable medium stored
with the instructions includes a manufacture that includes
instructions for realizing functions/actions designated in the flow
charts and/or in one or more blocks in the block diagrams.
[0110] These computer program instructions may further be loaded
into a computer or other programmable data processing devices or
other devices, such that a series of operating steps may be
performed on the computer or other programmable data processing
devices or other devices, so as to generate processes realized by
the computer, and functions/actions for realizing the functions
designated in one or more processes in the flowcharts and/or in one
or more blocks in the block diagrams may be provided by the
instructions executed on the computer or other programmable data
processing devices or other devices.
[0111] The flowcharts and block views in the accompanying drawings
show the structures, functions and operations that may be realized
by the systems, methods and computer program products of this
invention. Each block in the flowcharts and block views may
represent one module, one program segment or a part of
instructions, which comprise(s) one or more executable instructions
for realizing predetermined logical functions. It should also be
noted that in some alternative implementations, the function
described in one block may be realized in a sequence difference
from that described in the drawings. For example, two consecutive
blocks may be executed substantially in parallel, and may be
executed in an inverse sequence, depending on the related
functions. It should be noted that each block or a combination of
the blocks in the flowcharts and/or block views may be realized by
specific software systems for executing predetermined functions or
operations, or by a combination of specific hardware and computer
instructions. Those skilled in the art should well know that the
realization manners by hardware, or software or a combination
thereof are all equivalents.
[0112] The above has described the embodiments of this invention.
But the above descriptions are only exemplary rather than
exhaustive, and are not intended to limit the disclosed
embodiments. Those skilled in the art should clearly understand
that modifications can be made to the above embodiments without
departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments of this
invention. The terms selected in this disclosure are intended to
best explain the principles of the embodiments, applications or
improvements to the existing technologies, or to enable those
skilled in the art/related arts to better understand the
embodiments of this invention. The scope of this invention is
defined by the appended claims.
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